Effect of Musical Training on Cochlear Nonlinearity in Children: An Input/Output Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Study

Distortion product Otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) Input Output function can be used to calculate various quantitative features of the responses that are emitted, such as detection thresholds, maximum amplitudes, dynamic ranges, and slopes that correspond to the rate at which the emission increases as the number of primary sounds increases. Cochlear health directly affects the input/output function slope, which illustrates the supra-threshold non-linear characteristics of the cochlea for different input levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of musical training on cochlear nonlinearity in children with Formal Musical Training by using input/output function of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). The present study is an attempt to investigate DPOAE Input/Output (I/O) function characteristics at various frequencies between children with formal musical training and without formal musical training. DPOAE I/O measurements were carried out for seven frequencies for intensities ranging from 35 dB to 65 dBSPL with f2/f1 at 1.22. Parameters of slope, area and threshold were documented for 16 children with formal musical training and 18 children without formal musical training aged between 7-12 years. Musically trained children exhibited higher mean slope values for frequencies of 2857 Hz, 4000 Hz & 8000 Hz in comparison to children without formal musical training though the difference failed to achieve statistical significance. For Area, no significant difference was observed between the two groups at all frequencies. For threshold, significant difference obtained between the two groups only at 2857 Hz. More intensive and consistent training may be required for the children with formal musical training to master their craft and to bring about changes at the cochlear level.